Predator
Year: 1987
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger & Carl Weathers
Runtime: 107 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 24/08/22
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger & Carl Weathers
Runtime: 107 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 24/08/22
Over the last three decades the Predator franchise has been on a bit of a rough ride with critics and audiences, yet somehow maintained its popularity enough to warrant more sequels being produced. With the recent release of the franchises fifth mainline film, Prey, I felt compelled to return to the original film (especially as I haven’t seen it in well over a decade) and see how well it’s held up.
With U.S. hostages hidden in a Central American rainforest, Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) leads an elite paramilitary team to enter guerrilla territory and extract the high value individuals. However, when the team begin to be picked off by a technologically advanced alien hunter (Kevin Peter Hall), so begins a race against time to be extracted from the rainforest alive.
With U.S. hostages hidden in a Central American rainforest, Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) leads an elite paramilitary team to enter guerrilla territory and extract the high value individuals. However, when the team begin to be picked off by a technologically advanced alien hunter (Kevin Peter Hall), so begins a race against time to be extracted from the rainforest alive.
In the years since its release Predator has gone on to become one of the most popular action films of the 1980’s, and by extension considered one of the greatest action films of all time. But interestingly enough opinion of the film wasn’t always like this. Predator received a very mixed reception upon its release and only in the years since did it gain popularity and eventually be considered a classic.
Part of what many drew issue with in Predator is the extremely simple story and characters. Watching it for the first time in over ten years reminded me of just how true this is. Predator utilises story and characters the same way pornography would, it’s there but don’t expect much from it. It’s entirely set dressing for the action, an unfortunate side effect of a studio saying no to just having an hour of things blowing up without context. Despite this, I do really enjoy the first thirty minutes or so which is where most of the story happens. Dutch’s team is brought in for this mission by special request of CIA operative Dillon (Carl Weathers), and it’s only once the mission has been carried out does Dutch realise that Dillon has duped them. They aren’t there for a rescue mission, they were there as a kill squad. Whilst this plot is largely separate from the rest of the film, it does set up this interesting dynamic of distrust between Dutch’s team and Dillon that lasts the rest of the film.
The characters themselves can be boiled down to basic military stereotypes, and I can’t remember any of their names. They are cannon fodder at the end of the day, and the only real purpose they serve in the film is to showcase some gory special effects for their gruesome deaths.
But the one thing Predator certainly nails is pacing and tone. The first act of the film is dedicated to this fake rescue mission with nary a Predator in sight, it establishes Dutch team as the best of the best and borderline unkillable. Only then is the Predator introduced, and it’s from afar, stalking the team and learning how they work. The first kill comes at around the forty-minute mark and it’s here where the entire dynamic of the film changes. It shifts from this tour de force of macho bravado into a claustrophobic slasher film. The jungle which once seemed empowering and exciting feels oppressive and dangerous; the characters that once seemed like unstoppable killing machines are now no more threatening than a mouse in a trap. Predator handles this drastic tonal shift so well, and it goes a long way in making the film as enjoyable as it is. From here on out the squad get picked off one by one with some particularly gruesome deaths, all building up to the simply unforgettable finale which sees Dutch and the Predator face off one on one.
Part of what many drew issue with in Predator is the extremely simple story and characters. Watching it for the first time in over ten years reminded me of just how true this is. Predator utilises story and characters the same way pornography would, it’s there but don’t expect much from it. It’s entirely set dressing for the action, an unfortunate side effect of a studio saying no to just having an hour of things blowing up without context. Despite this, I do really enjoy the first thirty minutes or so which is where most of the story happens. Dutch’s team is brought in for this mission by special request of CIA operative Dillon (Carl Weathers), and it’s only once the mission has been carried out does Dutch realise that Dillon has duped them. They aren’t there for a rescue mission, they were there as a kill squad. Whilst this plot is largely separate from the rest of the film, it does set up this interesting dynamic of distrust between Dutch’s team and Dillon that lasts the rest of the film.
The characters themselves can be boiled down to basic military stereotypes, and I can’t remember any of their names. They are cannon fodder at the end of the day, and the only real purpose they serve in the film is to showcase some gory special effects for their gruesome deaths.
But the one thing Predator certainly nails is pacing and tone. The first act of the film is dedicated to this fake rescue mission with nary a Predator in sight, it establishes Dutch team as the best of the best and borderline unkillable. Only then is the Predator introduced, and it’s from afar, stalking the team and learning how they work. The first kill comes at around the forty-minute mark and it’s here where the entire dynamic of the film changes. It shifts from this tour de force of macho bravado into a claustrophobic slasher film. The jungle which once seemed empowering and exciting feels oppressive and dangerous; the characters that once seemed like unstoppable killing machines are now no more threatening than a mouse in a trap. Predator handles this drastic tonal shift so well, and it goes a long way in making the film as enjoyable as it is. From here on out the squad get picked off one by one with some particularly gruesome deaths, all building up to the simply unforgettable finale which sees Dutch and the Predator face off one on one.
It's hard to deny that Predator does look dated though. The types of shot used are more practical than artistic, and this mixed with the prevalent CGI used in the Predator’s cloaking can make it feel like you’re watching some B-Movie when viewed with modern eyes. I watched the film in 4K HDR and this ultra-crisp version of the film does gain a lot in colour depth, but the sharpness does provides some weird imperfections to the Predator’s cloaking. It’s probably best watched on a VHS, or if you’re lucky enough, a cinema showing it with the original 35mm print.
Alan Silvestri’s music is arguably the best part of Predator though. It’s unique blend of eighties sci-fi synth with the more percussion based orchestral action movie stylings makes it truly unforgettable. Not just the Predator’s main theme either, but the whole score created with such love and bold creativity.
It’s easy to see why Predator wasn’t seen too favourably out of the gates. On the surface it doesn’t offer much with its skimpy story and shallow characters. But the way the film is constructed, particularly in its pacing, makes returning to Predator over and over again such an enjoyable experience. It has some great action sequences, and some truly tense moments throughout. It’s a shame that the same can’t really be said of many of its sequels.
Alan Silvestri’s music is arguably the best part of Predator though. It’s unique blend of eighties sci-fi synth with the more percussion based orchestral action movie stylings makes it truly unforgettable. Not just the Predator’s main theme either, but the whole score created with such love and bold creativity.
It’s easy to see why Predator wasn’t seen too favourably out of the gates. On the surface it doesn’t offer much with its skimpy story and shallow characters. But the way the film is constructed, particularly in its pacing, makes returning to Predator over and over again such an enjoyable experience. It has some great action sequences, and some truly tense moments throughout. It’s a shame that the same can’t really be said of many of its sequels.